Plant Manager | Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Manufacturing

ROLE OVERVIEW

Our client, a manufacturer in Sharjah, is hiring a Plant Manager to lead a GMP-controlled pharmaceutical-grade nutraceutical factory. You will own safe, efficient and compliant production of premium nutraceutical and natural health products, from raw material intake to product release.

The role oversees production, quality assurance, quality control, laboratory operations, engineering, warehousing, logistics and regulatory compliance. The factory works to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), pharmaceutical-grade standards, and UAE and international food safety and certification requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Factory operations

- Lead all factory operations to deliver safe, efficient and cost-effective production

- Build annual production strategies and operational plans aligned with business objectives

- Make the best use of people, facilities, equipment and production resources

- Monitor factory performance and run continuous improvement initiatives

2. Pharmaceutical and regulatory compliance

- Keep the factory fully compliant with GMP, Good Documentation Practices (GDP), HACCP, ISO 22000 and applicable pharmaceutical, food and certification requirements

- Oversee and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

- Coordinate regulatory inspections, certification audits and licensing activities with authorities

- Keep manufacturing documentation accurate, complete and audit-ready

3. Production management

- Direct processing, filling, packaging, labeling, warehousing and logistics

- Review production schedules and make sure targets are met

- Track efficiency, yields and resource use

- Review and approve Batch Manufacturing Records (BMR) and Batch Packaging Records (BPR) before product release

4. Quality assurance and laboratory

- Supervise QA, QC, laboratory and production teams

- Make sure raw materials, packaging materials and finished products meet approved specifications

- Review laboratory reports, product release documents, deviations, CAPA and Out-of-Specification (OOS) investigations

- Support validation, qualification and quality improvement programs

5. Engineering and maintenance

- Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance

- Keep equipment qualified, calibrated, validated and maintained

- Approve equipment upgrades and automation projects

- Reduce downtime through maintenance planning

6. Warehouse and supply chain

- Oversee warehousing, inventory and logistics

- Ensure full traceability of raw materials and finished products

- Coordinate procurement planning for uninterrupted production

- Optimize inventory levels and reduce waste and cost

7. Health, safety and environment

- Meet occupational health, safety, environmental and food safety requirements

- Build a strong safety culture

- Implement and regularly test emergency response procedures

8. Leadership and people

- Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across production, QA, QC, engineering, laboratory, warehouse and logistics

- Set departmental objectives and track KPIs

- Identify training and development needs

- Build a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement

9. Financial and operational performance

- Prepare and manage the factory operational budget

- Monitor production costs, efficiency and profitability

- Analyze KPIs, act on gaps and report performance to senior management

10. Strategic development and innovation

- Support the development of new nutraceutical and natural health products

- Drive digital transformation and manufacturing automation

- Benchmark operations against international pharmaceutical and food manufacturing practice

- Work with research institutions to strengthen the company's product innovation

REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm or Pharm.D) from a recognized university

- Specialization or training in pharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial pharmacy or GMP is preferred

- Knowledge of food manufacturing systems or nutraceutical production is highly desirable

- A Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Industrial Management or Business Administration is an advantage

Experience

- At least 5 years of professional experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing operations

- Experience in a GMP-compliant manufacturing facility (mandatory)

- Experience managing multidisciplinary production teams

- Experience in food processing or nutraceutical manufacturing is an advantage

- Experience with regulatory inspections and quality management systems is highly desirable

Professional certifications

- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

- Good Documentation Practices (GDP)

- HACCP

- ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems

- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems

- Lean Six Sigma (preferred)

- Project Management Professional, PMP (preferred)

COMPETENCIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Technical competencies (expert level)

- Pharmaceutical manufacturing management

- GMP and regulatory compliance

- Production and operations management

- Quality management systems (QA/QC)

- Strategic leadership and operational excellence

Behavioral competencies

- Drive for excellence and continuous learning

- Trust and collaboration

- Innovation

- Flexibility and agility

- Authenticity

Working conditions

- Work inside a pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing facility under controlled GMP conditions

- Lead regulatory inspections, certification audits and licensing activities with authorities and certification bodies

- Be available to support production during peak periods, audits, product launches and operational emergencies

- Travel occasionally to suppliers, technical conferences, training programs and research institutions

- Follow pharmaceutical hygiene requirements, including controlled access, PPE, sanitation and documentation protocols

HOW TO APPLY

Send your updated CV to the Talent Tides recruiter who contacted you. Please include your current salary, expected salary, notice period and confirmation that you can work in Sharjah. Your details stay confidential and are shared with the client only with your consent.